Adjustable dispensing closure



Nov. 6, 1951 A. LIMBACH ADJUSTABLE DISPENSING CLOSURE Original FiledOct. 27, 1944 m I n 1 v A mug INVENTOR 44% W TATE.

:Y 7 Wffirgm ATTORNE ,to the exterior thereof.

Patented Nov. 6, 1951 2,574,337 ADJUSTABLE DISPENSING CLOSURE AlexLimbach, Carmel, N. Y.

Continuation of application Serial No. 560,567, October 27, 1944. Thisapplication February 28, 1951, Serial No. 213,228

16 Claims. 1

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 560,567,filed October 27, 1944, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved one-hand operated adjustabledispensing closure for containers of liquid which is desired to bedispensed. Such a dispenser may constitute a permanent part of thecontainer, the contents of which are to be discharged by the dispenserand may be permanently assembled with the container at the time that thecontents of the latter are introduced into the container and constitutesthe closure for the container or may be screwed onto the neck of thecontainer in the conventional manner of a bottle closure.

An object of this invention is a closure dispenser made up of a fewparts of simple construction and which is easy and inexpensive tomanufacture but operates in a highly eflicient manner.

In one embodiment of the invention, a disk of flexible material havingan aperture supports a tube adapted to extend into a containter with oneface of the disk contacting the end of the container neck. A cup has itsouter bottom face provided with an aperture in alinement with theflexible disk aperture. The cup bottom inner face is slightly concaveexcept for a narrow rim portion and a strip of flexible materialoverlies the bottom inner face. The flexible strip is of less width thanthe diameter of the concave portion and is of proper length and endconfiguration to conform to the inner surface of the cup wall. A rigidwasher overlies said flexible strip and snugly fits the inner surface ofthe cup wall. A hemispherical bulb has an annular rim resting on therigid washer with its periphery engaging the inner wall of the cup and acircular band encloses and clamps the aforementioned members inassembled relation. The rigid washer is chamfered at its periphery toform a pair of annular chambers and grooves in both faces of the rigidwasher extend between its center aperture and said annular chambers. Acircular recess formed in the inner surface of the cup wall communicateswith both said annular chambers and an aperture leads from said recessthrough said cup The circular band is provided with an opening in radialalinement with the cup wall aperture.

Compression of the bulb depresses the flexible strip downwardly intoposition to seal the aperture through the cup bottom and forces the bulbcontents through the rigid washer grooves into the annular chambers andfrom there into the cup recess from which the contents are dis.-

charged through the cup wall aperture and band opening. Upon expansionof the bulb, air is drawn thereinto by way of the band opening and cupaperture, the annular chambers and the rigid washer grooves while liquidis drawn from the container through the cup-bottom aperture betweenthestraight edges of the flexible strip and the concave portion of thecup bottom into an annular chamber from whence it passes through groovesin one face of the Washer to its central aperture and thence into theinterior of the bulb.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the upper end of the container equipped with adispensing closure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 partiallybroken away, and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the cup wallsubstantially on the line 'i-l of Fig. 3.

A disk ill of rubber or other suitable gasketforming material isprovided with a central boss H through which extends a cylindricalpassageway !2 of two different diameters. In the portion of largerdiameter is received the end of a tube l3 of glass or other suitablematerial. The end of the passageway l2 opposite the tube I3 terminatesin a conical recess M. In the face of the disk opposite the boss llthere is provided a circular groove 15 having radial extensions Hi, thegroove 55 and its extensions being initially formed of rectangularcross-section as indicated by the dot-dash line of Fig. 6. A passagewayl1 leads from the groove 15 through the disk ID.

A cup it of rigid material such, for example, as metal and of the samediameter as the disk It rests on said disk and the cup bottom isprovided with an offset conical apertured portion I9 seated in therecess 14 with the opposed conical surfaces in air-tight sealingrelation. The cup bottom inner face is slightly concave except for anarrow rim portion 2i which is flat and the bottom outer face may becorrespondingly convex. In the commercial embodiment of the invention,the extent of concavity is less than is shown in the drawings, whereinit is necessary to exaggerate the extent of concavity for the sake ofclarity. A strip 2| of thin suitable flexible material and of less widththan the concave portion of the cup bottom overlies said cup bottom andis of proper length and end configuration to coincide with the innerperiphery of the cup wall l8a. A disk 22 of suitable rigid materialsuch, for example, as metal overlies the flexible strip 2| and is ofproper diameter snugly to fit the inner surface of the cup wall. Asubstantially semispherical bulb 23 of rubber or other suitable materialhas an annular flange 24 resting on the washer 22 with its peripheryengaging the inner surface of the cup wall. An annular band 25 surroundsthe peripheries of the disk and the cup I8 and the flange 24 with oneedge of the band being inturned over the flange 24-. The band 25 also isinturned at 26 into contact with the bottom surface of the disk to clampthe bulb 23, washer 22, flexible strip 2|, cup |8 and flexible disk [0in the assembled relation shown in Fig. 2. The remaining edge of theband is turned over a flange 21 on the neck 28 of a container forclamping the dispensing device to the container with the tube l3projecting substantially to the bottom of the container.

The periphery of the disk 22 is chamfered at 23 and 30 to form twoseparate annular chambers 3| and 32. A circular recess 33 is formed inthe inner surface of the cup wall |8a of proper size to communicate withboth the chambers 3| and 32 and an aperture 34 leads therefrom throughthe cup wall. The washer 22 has grooves 35 and 35a in its top and bottomfaces leading from its central opening 36 to the periphery of the washerand into communication with the chambers 3| and 32. Each of the grooves35 and 35a is arranged substantially tangentially of the aperture 36 andcommunicates with the annular chambers 3| and 32 at an out-of-normalangularity. The

band 25 is slightly offset outwardly at 31 adjacent the cup wallaperture 34 and is provided with an opening 38 in alinement with saidaperture 34.

In the operation of the dispenser above described, compression of thebulb 23 depresses the flexible strip 2| downwardly into sealing contactwith the concave inner surface of the cup bottom so as to prevent flowof the bulb contents through the tube l3 into the container and forcesthe bulb contents through the grooves 35 and 35a to the chambers 3| and32 and from said chambers into the recess 33 from which said contentsare discharged through the aperture 34 and opening 38. Upon expansion ofthe bulb 23, the flexible strip 2| is drawn into sealing contact withthe bottom of the washer 22 and out of contact with the concave bottomsurface of the cup thereby providing passageways as shown in Figs. 2 and7 at 2|a between the straight edges of the strip 2| and'the innerconcave surface of the cup bottom. Air is drawn into the bulb by way ofthe opening 38, aperture 34, chambers 3| and 32 and grooves 35 and 35awhile liquid is drawn from the container through the tube I3 and thepassageways 2|a into the chamber 3| and thence through the grooves 35into the opening 36 of the washer 22 and finally into the interior ofthe bulb. The contents of the bulb thus comprise both air and liquidwhich is dispensed in highly dispersed condition through the orifice 34and opening 38. The arrangement of the grooves 35 and 35a is such thatthe direction of flow of air and liquid through the chamber 3| isopposite to the direction of flow of air and liquid through the chamber32 so that when the two streams reach the recess 33 they are caused tocirculate around therein in the same direction as illustrated in Fig. 6,whereby thorough mixture of the air and liquid is effected within therecess prior to discharge thereof through the aperture 34 and opening 38in a highly dispersed condition.

The grooves I5 and H5 in conjunction with the aperture 33 provide forpassage of air into or out of the container to maintain atmosphericpressure therein. The peripheries of the disk 10 and the cup bottomouter surface are chamfered to form an annular chamber 39 communicatingwith the interior of the oifset portion 3'! of the band 25. Air may thusflow from the exterior of the container into the interior of thecontainer through the opening 38, chamber 39, grooves l5 and I5 andaperture Air may flow from the interior of the container to the exteriorthereof by the reverse route. The grooves l5 and I6 are of across-section designed to prevent them becoming blocked when the disk Inis pressed against the bottom of the cup l8 by the offset portion 26 ofthe band 25. Customarily, grooves of flexible material have been ofsemicircular cross-section and under pressure the flexible material isdisplaced into the grooves to such extent as completely to block them.In the present construction, such block is avoided by making the groovesl5 and |G initially of rectangular cross-section. When the disk It iscompressed against the cup l8, the grooves l5 and I5 are converted fromtheir initial rectangular cross-section into the cross-sectionillustrated in Fig. 6. The material of the flexible disk is stilldistorted into the grooves but in such a manner as to leave openchannels |6a providing communication between the groove l5 and thechamber 39.

In the structure above described, the various units may be assembledwithout requirement of any particular orientation of one unit withrespect to any other except that the opening 38 of the band 25 must bein alinement with the aperture 34 in the wall of the cup I8. Assembly iseffected merely by placing the members in assembled relationirrespective of any orientation thereby effecting speedier assembly withconsequent production cost reduction. The dispenser may be attached tothe bottle neck otherwise than by clamping as shown. For example, thebottle neck may be threaded and the lower portion of the band 25 may becorrespondingly threaded to permit attachment of the dispenser to thebottle neck by screwing one to the other. Various degrees ofdispersement and volume may be obtained by changing the size of the cupwall aperture 34 as well as by changing the width of the flexible member2| thereby varying the ratio of the air and liquid as well as theamounts thereof drawn into the bulb 23 upon expansion thereof. Also,variation of the width of the strip 2| eifects variation in theclearances around the straight edge of said strip so as to vary theundulating movement of this strip. Thus, by proper selection ofdimensions, the above-described structure may be adapted to meet alldesired quality and quantity performance of liquid dispenser.

In order to facilitate illustration of the abovedescribed structure, thedisk H) has been shown in the position in which one end of the groove I6communicates directly with the interior of the offset portion 31.However, the operation of the device is the same with the disk orientedso that the ends of the groove l6 communicate with the chamber 39 atpoints removed from the offset Also, while it is preferred to have 1. Inan atomizer comprising a cup having a fluid inlet aperture in its bottomand an outlet opening in its side Wall, a thin flexible member in thecup over the inlet aperture, a washer over the flexible member, and anair bulb over the washer, the combination of an annular chamber betweenthe inner surface of the wall of the cup and the peripheral edge of thewasher extending completely around the entire periphery of the cup walland communicating with the outlet opening therein, a fluid passagewayinterconnecting the interior of the bulb and said annular chamber, and afluid passage bounded on one side bythe bottom of the cup and on theother by the flexible member and washer and leading under an edge of theflexible member, said last named passage interconnecting said inletaperture and said annular chamber.

2. In an atomizer comprising a cup having a fluid inlet aperture in itsbottom and an outlet opening in its side wall, a thin flexible member inthe cup over the inlet aperture, a washer over the flexible member, andan air bulb over the washer, the combination of a bevel extendingcompletely around one peripheral edge of the Washer and defining withthe inner surface of the wall of the cup an annular chambercommunicating with the outlet opening, grooves in the washer defining apassageway between the interior of the bulb and said annular chamber,the flexible member being a strip having a length and end configurationconforming to the inner surface of the side wall and a width less thanthe diameter of the side wall whereby there is defined a fluid passagebounded on one side by the bottom of the cup and on the other by theflexible member and washer and leading under an edge of the flexiblemember, said passage interconnecting said inlet aperture and saidannular chamber.

3. A dispensing closure comprising a cup having a central bottomaperture, said cup having its bottom inner face slightly concave, aflexible strip overlying said cup bottom, said strip being of less widththan the diameter of said concave portion and being of proper length andend configuration to conform to the inner surface of the cup wall, arigid disk overlying said flexible strip and having a central aperture,a hemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said disk with its perihery contacting the inner surface of the cup wall, means clamping theaforemen tioned members in assembled relation, said rigid disk beingshaped at its periphery to form an annular chamber, at least one groovein the surface of said rigid disk facing said flexible member andextending between the central aperture of the disk and said annularchamber, and an aperture in said cup wall communicating with saidchamber.

4. A dispensing closure comprising a cup having a central bottomaperture, said cup having its bottom inner face slightly concave, aflexible stri overlying said cup bottom, said strip being of less widththan the diameter of said concave portion and being of proper length andend configuration to conform to the inner surface of the cup wall, arigid disk overlying said flexible strip and having a central aperture,ahemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said disk with itsperiphery contacting the inner surface of the cup wall, an aperturedcircular band enclosing and clamping the aforementioned members inassembled relation, said disk being shaped at its periphery to form anannular chamber, at least one groove in the surface of said disk facingsaid flexible strip and extending between the central aperture. of saiddisk and said annular chamber,

and an aperture through said cup wall communicating with said chamberand being in alinement with said band aperture.

5. A dispensing closure comprising a cup having a central bottomaperture, said cup having its bottom inner face slightly concave, aflexible strip overlying said cup bottom, said strip being of less Widththan the diameter of said concave portion and being of proper length andend configuration to conform to the inner surface of the cup wall, arigid disk overlying said flexible strip and having a central aperture,a hemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said disk with itsperiphery contacting the inner surface of the cup wall, an aperturedcircular band enclosing and clamping the aforementioned members inassembled relation, said disk being chamfered at its periphery to form apair of annular chambers, grooves in both faces of said disk extendingbetween its central aperture and said annular chambers, a recess in theinner surface of the cup wall communicating with both said chambers, andan aperture leading from said recess through said cup Wall in alinementwith said band aperture.

6. A dispensing closure comprising a disk of flexible material having anaperture, a cup having its bottom outer face contacting said flexibledisk and having a bottom aperture alined with said flexible diskaperture, said cup having its bottom inner face slightly concave, aflexible strip overlying said bottom inner face. said strip being ofless width than said concave portion and being of proper length and endconfiguration to conform to the inner surface of said cup wall, a rigiddisk overlying said flexible strip and having a central aperture, ahemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said rigid disk with itsperiphery engaging the inner surface of said cup wall,

means clamping the aforementioned members in assembled relation, saidrigid disk being shaped at its periphery to form an annular chamber, atleast one groove in the surface of said rigid disk facing said flexiblemember and extending between the central aperture of the disk and saidannular chamber, and an aperture in said cup wall communicating withsaid chamber.

7. A dispensing closure comprising a disk of flexible material having anaperture, a cup having its bottom outer face contacting said flexibledisk and having a bottom aperture alined with said flexible diskaperture, said cup having its bottom inner face slightly concave, aflexible strip overlying said bottom inner face, said strip being ofless width than said concave portion and being of proper length and endconfiguration to conform to the inner surface of said cup wall, a rigiddisk overlying said flexible strip and having a central aperture, ahemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said rigid disk with itsperiphery engaging the inner surface of said cup wall,

an apertured circular band enclosing and clamping the aforementionedmembers in assembled relation, said rigid disk being chamfered at itsperiphery to form a pair of annular chambers, grooves in both faces ofsaid rigid disk extending between its central aperture and said annularchambers, a recess in the inner surface of said cup wall communicatingwith both said chambers, and an aperture leading from said recessthrough said cup wall in alinement with said band aperture.

8. A dispensing closure comprising a disk of flexible material having anaperture, a cup having its bottom outer face contacting said flexibledisk and having a bottom aperture alined with said flexible diskaperture, said cup having its bottom inner face slightly concave, aflexible strip overlying said bottom inner face, said strip being ofless width than said concave portion and being of proper length and endconfiguration to conform to the inner surface of said cup wall, a rigiddisk overlying said flexible strip and having a central aperture, ahemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said rigid disk with itsperiphery engaging the inner surface of said cup wall, means clampingthe aforementioned memmers in assembled relation, said rigid disk beingshaped at its periphery to form an annular chamber, at least one groovein the surface of said rigid disk facing said flexible member andextending between the central aperture of said disk and said .annularchamber, an aperture in said cup wall communicating with said chamber, achannel in the face of said flexible disk facing said cup bottom andextendin radially thereof, and a passageway leading from said channelthrough said disk.

9. A dispensing closure according to claim 8 characterized by theflexible disk channel being of rectangular cross-section when the diskis not subjected to pressure.

10. A dispensing closure comprising a disk of flexible material havingan aperture, a cup having its bottom outer face contacting said flexibledisk and having a bottom aperture alined with said flexible diskaperture, said cup having its bottom inner face slightly. concave, aflexible strip overlying said bottom inner face, said strip being ofless width than said concave portion and being of proper length and endconfiguration to conform to the inner surface of said cup wall, a rigiddisk overlying said flexible strip and having a central aperture, ahemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said rigid disk with itsperiphery engaging the inner surface of said cup wall, a circular bandenclosing and clamping the aforementioned members in assembled relation,said band having a radially offset portion containing an opening, saidrigid disk being chamfered at its periphery to form a pair of annularchambers, grooves in both faces of said rigid disk extending between itscentral aperture and said annular chambers, a recess in the innersurface of said cup wall communicating with both said chambers, anaperture leading from said recess through said cup wall in alinementwith said band opening, said cup bottom and said flexible disk beingproperly chamfered to form a chamber communicating with the interior ofsaid band-offset portion, a channel in the face of said flexible diskfacing said cup bottom and extending radially thereof, and a passagewayleading from said channel through said disk.

11. A device of the character described comprising a cup having anapertured extension leading from the bottom thereof. a disk of flexibleiii;

material having a passageway receiving said extension with the opposedsurfaces of said cup bottom and disk in contact, means clamping togethersaid disk and cup, a channel in the face of said flexible disk facingsaid cup bottom and extending radially thereof, and a passageway leadingfrom the inner end of said channel through said disk.

12. A device according to claim 11 characterized by said channel beingof rectangular crosssection when the disk is not subjected tocompression.

13. A dispensing closure comprising a disk of flexible material havingan aperture, 2. cup having its bottom face contacting said flexible diskand having a bottom aperture alined with said flexible disk aperture, anaperture through the cup wall, a hemispherical bulb fitting into saidcup, a band enclosing and clamping together said bulb and cup andflexible disk and having an opening alined with said cup wall aperture,a radial channel in the surface of the flexible disk facing the cupbottom, a passageway leading from the inner end of said channel throughsaid flexible disk, a passageway providing communication between theouter end of said channel and said band opening, and means for effectingflow of liquid through the cup bottom and flexible disk apertures intosaid bulb and discharge therefrom in dispersed condition through saidwall aperture and band opening upon alternate expansion and contractionof said bulb.

14. A dispensing closure according to claim 1'3 characterized by saidflexible disk channel being of rectangular cross-section when the diskis not subjected to compression.

15. A dispensing closure comprising a cup having a central bottomaperture, said cup having its bottom inner face slightly concave, aflexible strip overlying said cup bottom, said strip being of less widththan the diameter of said concave portion and being of proper length andend configuration to conform to the inner surface of the cup wall, arigid disk overlying said flexible strip and having a central aperture,a hemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said disk with itsperiphery contacting the inner surface of the cup wall, means clampingthe aforementioned members in assembled relation, said disk beingchamfered at its periphery to form a pair of annular chambers, a recessin the inner surface of the cup wall communicating with both saidchambers, an aperture leading from said recess through said cup Wall,and grooves in both faces of said disk extending between its centralaperture and said annular chambers, said grooves being so arranged as tocause fluid flow in opposite directions through said chambers uponmanipulation of said bulb irrespective of which side of the disk facessaid flexible strip.

16. A dispensing closure for a container having a neck, said closurecomprising a disk of pliable material engaging the end of said neck andhaving a central aperture and radial channels in its upper face, theperiphery of said upper face being chamfered and said disk having anopening therethrough communicating with said channels, a cup having abottom outer face resting on said pliable disk and having a bottomaperture alined with said pliable disk aperture, said outer cup bottombeing charnfered atits periphery forming with said pliable disk chambera V-shaped passageway, and having its bottom inner face slightlyconcave, a flexible strip overlying said cup bottom and being of properlength and shape to conform to the inner surface of the cup wall, arigid disk resting on said flexible strip having a central aperture andgrooves in both faces ar-, ranged to cause fluid flow in oppositedirections, a hemispherical bulb having its rim resting on said rigiddisk while contacting the inner surface of the cup wall, said rigid diskbeing chamfered on its periphery to form a pair of conduits, aperturedmeans clamping the aforementioned members in assembled relation on thecontainer neck, said cup having a recess in its inner wall surfacecommunicating with both of'said conduits and an aperture in the centerof said recess leading through said cup wall, the arrangement of saidrigid disk and flexible strip in said cup being such that uponmanipulation of the bulb fluid is caused to flow in opposite directionsthrough said conduits to said cup wall recess and therein swirl prior toits ejection through said recess aperture and clamping means aperture infinally dispersed condition and air flow to and from the interior ofsaid container is conducted through said V-shaped passagewaycommunicating with said clamping means aperture.

ALEX LIMBACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent and in the parent case:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,311,496 Spender Feb. 16, 19432,427,932 Spender et a1 Sept. 23, 1947

